The larger the gang, the more troublesome matters arise?
Li Qing instinctively glanced at the now aging Tianlong, who exuded a faint aura of twilight.
This warrior, who had experienced the era of sunlight in this world, was indeed not young anymore.
It was likely that in a few more years, when people like Tianlong had completely passed away, the fact that the sky of the Eternal Night World once had the sun shining would become a true myth.
What a sad era it was.
Li Qing sighed slightly in his heart and turned to speak, “I see that you are still strong and healthy, why speak such disheartening words?”
Tianlong shook his head and replied, “In my youth, I was reckless and left behind many ailments. I know my own body well; it’s clear that I don’t have many years left.”
“As for who will inherit the position of gang leader in the future, I truly don’t know. Sigh, if only you were willing to stay, that would be great, but it’s a pity.”
To this, Li Qing maintained a silent posture.
He intended to involve himself as little as possible in such internal matters, allowing Tianlong to arrange things on his own.
It was proven that Tianlong’s exhaustion was not without reason.
After a period of time following Li Qing’s private meeting with Tianlong, a certain rumor inexplicably spread, causing quite a stir.
“Brother Zhao, have you heard? There are people outside saying that Boss Tianlong wants to pass the position of gang leader to that Li Qing!”
Zhao Kou, who had once been as ruthless as a wolf, was brought along by Tianlong to participate in the significant event of overthrowing the Yan family due to his fierce nature and clean background.
He could be considered a contributor to the current status of the Righteous Gang.
Now, he held a significant position within the gang.
“And then?” Zhao Kou didn’t lift his head, still keeping it lowered as if he were dozing off.
Under him, many were the new blood of the gang.
“How can that be? If Boss Tianlong really does this, it would be unfair!”
“Exactly, we don’t even know that Li Qing. They say he made great contributions back then.”
“That’s indeed not good. If Boss Tianlong really decides this, then we brothers definitely won’t accept it.”
“Brother Zhao, now you are also an external strength warrior. We all think the position of gang leader should be yours; it shouldn’t go to that Li Qing!”
Listening to his subordinates discussing back and forth, Zhao Kou let out a strange light laugh.
“Hehe, you all come here.” Zhao Kou said softly.
The few who had just spoken exchanged glances, then eagerly approached.
Once they stood in a neat row before Zhao Kou, he finally raised his head, his gaze fierce.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
Several crisp sounds of slaps echoed in succession, as Zhao Kou struck each of his subordinates with a resounding slap. The few of them fell to the ground, covering their faces in confusion as they looked at their big brother.
“Brother Zhao.”
Zhao Kou’s gaze remained extremely fierce as he said in a deep voice, “Whatever decision Boss Tianlong makes is his business; what qualifications do you have to gossip?”
“Brother Li single-handedly dealt with two external strength enemies from the Yan family. If he were to become the gang leader, I wouldn’t dare to have any objections. What are you all?”
“I don’t care what they say outside, but don’t let me hear our people discussing such baseless rumors again.”
As his words fell, the subordinates who had been slapped looked fearful, repeatedly agreeing.
Such rumors were certainly not limited to Zhao Kou’s side.
As long as someone had subordinates and held some territory in Obsidian City, they had heard such talk.
For example, Wei Tian, who didn’t even let his subordinate finish speaking before kicking him out. “I call him Li Ye, and you all call him Li Qing? What does that mean? Can’t you tell how much you weigh?”
“When you joined the gang, I made you see the likeness of that person in the portrait; how have you all forgotten it now?”
“…”
Even over at An Xuan’s place, someone quietly passed the word.
An Xuan’s clear and beautiful eyes flashed with a cold light as she coldly said, “If I hear such words again, you can cut your own tongues.”
Her tone was calm yet dangerous. If Li Qing were to see this scene, he would sigh at how the little girl who once dared only to hide behind her grandfather had transformed into this.
There was no trace of the neighborly demeanor left; she was undoubtedly acting like a gang queen!
Of course, there were still some other voices within the Righteous Gang.
For instance, some of the core members who had followed Tianlong to establish the Righteous Gang had their own opinions.
“Damn it, Boss Tianlong has really become muddled; that Li Qing, although he has merits, doesn’t mean he should inherit the position of gang leader!”
“I refuse to accept it. I joined when there were only a few cats and dogs in the gang; in terms of seniority, I shouldn’t be behind that little brat Li Qing!”
“Hmph, he hasn’t been back for so many years, and now he returns wanting to sit in the position of gang leader. Who can agree to that?”
“If the boss really does that…”
In the public hall of the Righteous Gang, a ghostly figure slipped in.
“Gang leader.”
This person bent down and whispered into Tianlong’s ear in an extremely subtle voice.
As Tianlong listened, the expression on his face began to change.
At first, he was quite pleased, but not long after, it turned dark as water, and he even couldn’t help but clench his fists.
After a long time, he still wore a gloomy expression.
Finally, his eyes gradually became resolute, and he made a throat-cutting gesture in front of him.
After this ghostly figure nodded and left, Tianlong slumped onto the chair, covering his eyes, looking as if he had aged a decade.
“Sigh.”
After this, the Seven Killers Team, who only obeyed Tianlong, immediately sprang into action.
Those core members who had been around since the establishment of the Righteous Gang and had voiced their opinions against Li Qing met their end in the shortest time possible, dying inexplicably.
In an instant, the entire gang was in a state of alarm.
However, it was precisely because Tianlong made this decision that the future Righteous Gang was spared from a turbulent hidden danger.
Even if he were to pass away, at least the people below wouldn’t fight over the position of gang leader.
At this moment, Li Qing was in the former Yan family’s armory, carefully flipping through a scroll of martial arts manuals.
He had no interest in understanding the events happening within the Righteous Gang, nor did he have the mood to get involved.
Once he had looted enough gold, silver, and jewels and finished reading the manuals in the Yan family’s armory, he prepared to leave.
“This Shadow Seeking Step is quite interesting; paired with my Light Luo Leg, it might yield unexpected results.”
Li Qing murmured to himself, eagerly committing this lightness technique to memory.
Before long, light footsteps suddenly echoed outside the armory, accompanied by a gentle voice:
“Brother Li, are you inside?”
(End of Chapter)